Track Lighting: Illuminating the Light Path
Steve Maurer, IME
My home is taking on the aura of an art museum gallery. Canvases are popping up on the walls everywhere throughout the house.
Not that it’s a bad thing. There are some real benefits, like hiding holes in the walls, and not having major areas to paint.
Just kidding, of course. About the holes, anyway.
Besides being a professional chef and gardener, my daughter’s quite an accomplished artist. During the past few years, she painted a plethora of canvases in oils and acrylics and various other media. One I’m particularly proud of is a 48 x 24 painting of a lake scene in the forest. It hangs on the wall in my office.
And our three small granddaughters are taking up the brush as well.
So grandma and granddad’s house are populated by various works of art. Oddly, very few crayon drawings on the refrigerator these days. All wall hangers, to be sure.
And that brings us to the topic of the day … track lighting.
With artwork covering the walls in the living room, office and hallways, displaying them in all their glory is a must. Hopefully, this article will be...illuminating.
The evolution of track lighting
How has track lighting evolved over the years?
Track lighting uses a series of lights mounted on a track or rail. We’re all pretty familiar with them. Track lights are often used to highlight specific areas or objects in a room, such as artwork, shelves, or countertops. Like the art gallery now being collected in my house, LOL.
The technology has been around since the 1960s, when it was first introduced by Lightolier, a company that specialized in lighting fixtures. A fellow by the name of Anthony Donato came up with it and got the first patent on it. In fact, he earned about 32 patents as he continued to come up with new designs and products. He had a fine arts degree in industrial design and had a goal to marry form and function to create beautiful, but useful lighting technology.
The original track lighting system consisted of a metal track with sockets that could hold incandescent bulbs. The track could be bent and shaped to fit different spaces, and the bulbs could be moved along the track and angled to direct the light.
Over the years, track lighting has evolved to become more versatile, energy-efficient, and stylish. Some of the innovations include:
But it certainly has gained popularity in both commercial and residential setting. Track lighting can also create different moods and atmospheres by adjusting the direction and intensity of the lights.
Lighting designers will coordinate track lighting with natural lighting to present and aesthetic look that takes advantage of both.
Most track lighting systems require hard-wiring into the electrical system of the home or business. But some products can be plugged into existing electrical outlets making the installation faster, but perhaps not as clean.
Track lighting is definitely here to stay. And it’s something you can offer both your commercial and residential customers.
Uh oh … someone’s knocking on the door.
Yep, it’s the grand kids!
And they’re toting even more artwork for Granddad to hang.
Sometimes I think they’re in cahoots with a lighting company …
Not that it’s a bad thing. There are some real benefits, like hiding holes in the walls, and not having major areas to paint.
Just kidding, of course. About the holes, anyway.
Besides being a professional chef and gardener, my daughter’s quite an accomplished artist. During the past few years, she painted a plethora of canvases in oils and acrylics and various other media. One I’m particularly proud of is a 48 x 24 painting of a lake scene in the forest. It hangs on the wall in my office.
And our three small granddaughters are taking up the brush as well.
So grandma and granddad’s house are populated by various works of art. Oddly, very few crayon drawings on the refrigerator these days. All wall hangers, to be sure.
And that brings us to the topic of the day … track lighting.
With artwork covering the walls in the living room, office and hallways, displaying them in all their glory is a must. Hopefully, this article will be...illuminating.
The evolution of track lighting
How has track lighting evolved over the years?
Track lighting uses a series of lights mounted on a track or rail. We’re all pretty familiar with them. Track lights are often used to highlight specific areas or objects in a room, such as artwork, shelves, or countertops. Like the art gallery now being collected in my house, LOL.
The technology has been around since the 1960s, when it was first introduced by Lightolier, a company that specialized in lighting fixtures. A fellow by the name of Anthony Donato came up with it and got the first patent on it. In fact, he earned about 32 patents as he continued to come up with new designs and products. He had a fine arts degree in industrial design and had a goal to marry form and function to create beautiful, but useful lighting technology.
The original track lighting system consisted of a metal track with sockets that could hold incandescent bulbs. The track could be bent and shaped to fit different spaces, and the bulbs could be moved along the track and angled to direct the light.
Over the years, track lighting has evolved to become more versatile, energy-efficient, and stylish. Some of the innovations include:
- LED bulbs: LED bulbs are more durable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective than incandescent bulbs. They also produce less heat and offer a wider range of colors and brightness levels. LED bulbs can be dimmed and controlled remotely with smart devices. (Love my smart lights!)
- Low-voltage systems: Low-voltage systems use transformers to reduce the voltage of the electricity that powers the lights. This makes them safer, easier to install, and more compatible with different types of bulbs. Low-voltage systems also allow for more flexibility in designing the track layout and shape.
- Monorail systems: Monorail systems are a type of low-voltage system that use a single rail instead of a track. The rail can be curved and twisted to create custom shapes and patterns. The lights can be attached to the rail with pendants, spotlights, or other fixtures.
- Cable systems: Cable systems are another type of low-voltage system that use two parallel cables instead of a track or rail. The cables can be stretched across a room or along a wall, creating a minimalist and modern look. The lights can be clipped or hung from the cables with various fixtures.
But it certainly has gained popularity in both commercial and residential setting. Track lighting can also create different moods and atmospheres by adjusting the direction and intensity of the lights.
Lighting designers will coordinate track lighting with natural lighting to present and aesthetic look that takes advantage of both.
Most track lighting systems require hard-wiring into the electrical system of the home or business. But some products can be plugged into existing electrical outlets making the installation faster, but perhaps not as clean.
Track lighting is definitely here to stay. And it’s something you can offer both your commercial and residential customers.
Uh oh … someone’s knocking on the door.
Yep, it’s the grand kids!
And they’re toting even more artwork for Granddad to hang.
Sometimes I think they’re in cahoots with a lighting company …
Photo courtesy of WAC Lighting
